Mark Carney Aims to Revitalize Canada-India Relations Ahead of Liberal Leadership Election

Ottawa: Mark Carney, the former central banker, aims to strengthen Canada’s ties with India if he becomes prime minister. He announced his vision while campaigning to lead the Liberal Party.

During a speech in Calgary, Carney emphasized the importance of diversifying Canada’s trade with countries that share similar values. He sees India as a key partner in this effort. “I look forward to building that relationship,” he stated.

Carney’s commitment to rebuilding ties comes after a period of tension between the two nations. This strain heightened when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader, in Surrey, British Columbia, in September 2023.

India has denied these allegations, with officials insisting that Canada has not provided any evidence to support its claims. Following these accusations, both countries opted to recall their diplomats in a show of discontent.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs laid the blame for the deterioration of relations on Trudeau, criticizing him for making serious claims without hard evidence. This situation has led to a fallout that both nations are eager to move past.

Carney, who is 59 years old, will take over from Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January. Carney recently secured 85.9% of the vote from Liberal Party members, positioning him to lead at a crucial time for Canada.